Saudi Arabia announces maritime defence alliance to secure vital waterways

Fourteen nations sign up to alliance to protect vital trade and energy routes amid escalating hostilities.Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries have announced the creation of a maritime military coalition to safeguard freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.In a statement published on Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance was established as a framework to strengthen collective maritime defence cooperation.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Yemen’s Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi Arabia oil tankerlist 2 of 3Iraqi armed groups condemn ‘dangerous escalation’ after US-Saudi strikeslist 3 of 3Iran attacks US forces in Jordan as Trump meets Netanyahuend of listThe states declared their intent to protect freedom of navigation, securing international trade routes and energy supply routes through the three waterways, which form a strategic maritime corridor linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean.The move comes as the United States-Iran conflict has become focused on the Strait of Hormuz. The virtual closure of the route, which formerly carried about 20 percent of gl...